Fear of losing ground to AAP forces UKD factions to unite

Jotirmay Thapliyal

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 1

The unification of the two factions of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) has happened at a time when the people of the state are looking for an alternative to both BJP and Congress, which have been accused of poor governance. Political pundits say the resounding victory of AAP in the Delhi Assembly elections has forced the warring UKD groups to come together lest the party loses its relevance and ground to Arvind Kejriwal’s party.

With a long history of agitations for a separate state of Uttarakhand, there is no denying the fact that the UKD is credited with playing a major role in the creation of Uttarakhand out of Uttar Pradesh. However, the party lost the momentum soon after the formation of Uttarakhand due to internal frictions.

Many of the UKD supporters had joined the BJP or the Congress. The party that became very popular among the people during the statehood agitation is today fighting for its survival.

The first Assembly elections after the formation of the state saw the UKD winning four seats, two each from Garhwal and Kumaon despite little financial and other resources. The party has only one MLA, Preetam Sing Panwar, in the state Assembly today.

Unfortunately, many UKD leaders have either joined the BJP or the Congress, weakening it. Party MLAs have been part of both BJP and Congress governments in the state.

The landslide victory of AAP in the Delhi Assembly elections seems to have forced the Kashi Singh Airy and Trivendra Singh Panwar factions of the UKD to merge. Both factions had been at loggerheads for quite some time. Perhaps, the AAP success in Delhi made them realise that Kejriwal’s party’s entry into Uttarakhand could sound the death knell for the UKD.

The AAP contested all five Lok Sabha seats in the state and stood third after the BJP and the Congress, making it a third option for the people. Though now a united UKD swears to put up a formidable challenge to the Congress and the BJP, political observers doubt the forged unity would remain intact for long taking into account personal ambitions of its top leadership.

The first challenge for the UKD will be the 2017 state Assembly elections when it would have to fight not only the BJP and the Congress but also a resurgent AAP. The AAP has already roped in many state agitators.

Uttarakhand is into its 15th year of existence and the 2017 Assembly elections could prove to be detrimental to the existence of the UKD and its relevance in the state. The poll outcome will also decide the future course of regional politics in the state.